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THE PROPERTY OF A SPANISH COLLECTOR
THE HISTORY, GENEALOGY AND HERALDRY OF THE GODOY, ALBAREZ, RIOS AND SANCHEZ FAMILIES, in Spanish, MADE FOR DON MANUEL FRANCISCO DOMINGO DE GODOY, PRIME MINISTER OF SPAIN AND PRINCE OF THE PEACE, with pull-out genealogical charts, ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT ON VELLUM
Details
THE HISTORY, GENEALOGY AND HERALDRY OF THE GODOY, ALBAREZ, RIOS AND SANCHEZ FAMILIES, in Spanish, MADE FOR DON MANUEL FRANCISCO DOMINGO DE GODOY, PRIME MINISTER OF SPAIN AND PRINCE OF THE PEACE, with pull-out genealogical charts, ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT ON VELLUM
Madrid, 4 August 1791
290 x 197mm. 113 leaves and 4 pull-out charts, COMPLETE. 18 lines written in a formal cursive bookhand in black and red ink, the text double-framed in gold and red, headers in gold, blue and red, each section opened by the family name in gold within an elaborate gilt floral headpiece, three paper seals at the end, TWELVE HISTORIATED INITIALS depicting rural scenes, ONE FULL-PAGE MINIATURE DEPICTING CLIO, THE MUSE OF HISTORY, with a roundel containing the printed stamp of Charles IV of Spain, FOUR PULL-OUT GENEALOGICAL CHARTS with coats of arms, each measuring c.420 x 600mm. Contemporary binding of red morocco gilt, lined with blue silk (panels replaced and modern, some scuffing to edges).
PROVENANCE:
(a) The manuscript was drawn up by Don Pasqual Antonio de la Rua Ruiz de Naveda, Chronicler King of Arms (Cronista de Armas) of Charles IV of Spain, on 4 August 1791 (his autograph signature with paper seal on f.111v) and endorsed by 'los escribanos del Rey' (with autograph signatures on f.112) and further by Don Manuel de Pinedo, 'Caballero Pensionista de la Real y Distinguida Orden Espanola de Carlos Tercero' (his autograph signature with paper seal on f.112v). (b) DON MANUEL FRANCISCO DOMINGO DE GODOY (DI BASSANO) Y ÀLVAREZ DE FARIA, DE LOS ROS Y SáNCHEZ-ZARZOSA, also Manuel de Godoy y Àlvarez de Faria de los Ros Sánchez Zarzosa (1767-1851), PRIME MINISTER OF SPAIN from 1792 to 1797 and from 1801 to 1808.
CONTENT:
Full-page miniature depicting Clio f. 1v; Preface ff.2-3v; the Godoy family history followed by a pull-out chart ff. 4-43v; the Albarez family history with pull-out chart after f.69, ff. 44-75; the Rios family history with pull-out chart after f.91, ff. 75-94v; the Sanchez family history, with pull-out chart after f.107, ff. 94v-108; Conclusion and subscriptions ff.108-112v.
A SUMPTUOUS AND LAVISH TESTAMENT TO THE IMMENSE POWER, AMBITION AND INFLUENCE OF ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS AND CONTROVERSIAL POLITICAL FIGURES IN SPANISH HISTORY. Don Manuel de Godoy's rise through the ranks from his arrival in Madrid aged 17 in 1784 was unprecedented and meteoric -- from Royal Bodyguard, to knight of the Order of Santiago, to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III and Prime Minister in just seven years, his influence over Charles IV and his wife Maria Louisa (some say his wife, especially) was profound and would last their entire lives. He took Spain to war against the French, then against the Portuguese, with varying degrees of success (Lord Byron claimed that it was to him 'that the Spaniards universally impute the ruin of their country'). In 1802 Napoleon wrote to King Charles IV telling him that Godoy was the de facto King of Spain and that he was also Maria Louisa's lover. The letter was intercepted by Godoy's staff, but so confident was Godoy in his position that he allowed the letter to be delivered to Charles all the same. Prince of Peace, Generalissimo, Most Serene Highness: he was showered with honours and titles until his exile in 1807 following Charles IV's abdication. In 1844 he returned to Spain, where his titles were eventually restored to him. He died in Paris in 1851.
Madrid, 4 August 1791
290 x 197mm. 113 leaves and 4 pull-out charts, COMPLETE. 18 lines written in a formal cursive bookhand in black and red ink, the text double-framed in gold and red, headers in gold, blue and red, each section opened by the family name in gold within an elaborate gilt floral headpiece, three paper seals at the end, TWELVE HISTORIATED INITIALS depicting rural scenes, ONE FULL-PAGE MINIATURE DEPICTING CLIO, THE MUSE OF HISTORY, with a roundel containing the printed stamp of Charles IV of Spain, FOUR PULL-OUT GENEALOGICAL CHARTS with coats of arms, each measuring c.420 x 600mm. Contemporary binding of red morocco gilt, lined with blue silk (panels replaced and modern, some scuffing to edges).
PROVENANCE:
(a) The manuscript was drawn up by Don Pasqual Antonio de la Rua Ruiz de Naveda, Chronicler King of Arms (Cronista de Armas) of Charles IV of Spain, on 4 August 1791 (his autograph signature with paper seal on f.111v) and endorsed by 'los escribanos del Rey' (with autograph signatures on f.112) and further by Don Manuel de Pinedo, 'Caballero Pensionista de la Real y Distinguida Orden Espanola de Carlos Tercero' (his autograph signature with paper seal on f.112v). (b) DON MANUEL FRANCISCO DOMINGO DE GODOY (DI BASSANO) Y ÀLVAREZ DE FARIA, DE LOS ROS Y SáNCHEZ-ZARZOSA, also Manuel de Godoy y Àlvarez de Faria de los Ros Sánchez Zarzosa (1767-1851), PRIME MINISTER OF SPAIN from 1792 to 1797 and from 1801 to 1808.
CONTENT:
Full-page miniature depicting Clio f. 1v; Preface ff.2-3v; the Godoy family history followed by a pull-out chart ff. 4-43v; the Albarez family history with pull-out chart after f.69, ff. 44-75; the Rios family history with pull-out chart after f.91, ff. 75-94v; the Sanchez family history, with pull-out chart after f.107, ff. 94v-108; Conclusion and subscriptions ff.108-112v.
A SUMPTUOUS AND LAVISH TESTAMENT TO THE IMMENSE POWER, AMBITION AND INFLUENCE OF ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS AND CONTROVERSIAL POLITICAL FIGURES IN SPANISH HISTORY. Don Manuel de Godoy's rise through the ranks from his arrival in Madrid aged 17 in 1784 was unprecedented and meteoric -- from Royal Bodyguard, to knight of the Order of Santiago, to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III and Prime Minister in just seven years, his influence over Charles IV and his wife Maria Louisa (some say his wife, especially) was profound and would last their entire lives. He took Spain to war against the French, then against the Portuguese, with varying degrees of success (Lord Byron claimed that it was to him 'that the Spaniards universally impute the ruin of their country'). In 1802 Napoleon wrote to King Charles IV telling him that Godoy was the de facto King of Spain and that he was also Maria Louisa's lover. The letter was intercepted by Godoy's staff, but so confident was Godoy in his position that he allowed the letter to be delivered to Charles all the same. Prince of Peace, Generalissimo, Most Serene Highness: he was showered with honours and titles until his exile in 1807 following Charles IV's abdication. In 1844 he returned to Spain, where his titles were eventually restored to him. He died in Paris in 1851.
Brought to you by
Eugenio Donadoni